Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame shares details for Music City Center home

Mayor Karl Dean shares details for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame's new home during a press conference at Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012. (JAE S. LEE / THE TENNESSEAN)

During a press conference held in the building’s construction zone, details including the hall’s design and components – songwriting artifacts and three 55-inch touch screens to relay information about the hall’s 184 members – were confirmed.

“This is a great milestone day in the history of the Music City Center,” said Marty Dickens, chairman of the convention center authority, as Songwriters Hall of Famers John D. Loudermilk, Bobby Braddock, Wayland Holyfield, Kye Fleming, Kenny O’Dell, Roger Murrah, and Pat Alger looked on.

In a statement, Mayor Dean called songwriters the “unsung heroes” of the music business and said the Hall’s location inside the new convention center would give locals and out-of-town visitors another reason to stop by the space.

“My wife reminded me this building is designed to represent the rolling hills of Tennessee,” said Alger, whose songwriting co-writes with Garth Brooks produced four No. 1 hits (“The Thunder Rolls,” “Unanswered Prayers,” “What She’s Doing Now” and “That Summer”).

“Those hills have always been full of songs. If you visit L.A. and New York City, it’s often hard to find the heartbeat of the city. Now we can (point and say) it’s right over there.”